The irresistible rise of the art fair with John McDonald
About the event
Art fairs have become a critical component of the art market’s international ecosystem. Join leading art critic John McDonald as he traces the roots of the art fair from medieval marketplaces and religious festivals to the globalised world of high finance. Uncover the pressures and temptations of these events for artists, collectors and dealers; discover what most participants hope to get out of these prestigious shop fests. It’s a tale of big money and high hopes, of lost illusions and devious strategies. Is the contemporary art fair a historical fad or is it the future? For many, it’s the ultimate pop-up show in a world in which conventional galleries are looking for ways to stay alive. John McDonald is a leading art critic. McDonald has written regularly for The Sydney Morning Herald over the past decade and has been a film critic for the Australian Financial Review for 13 years, while contributing to a wide range of publications in Australia and internationally. He is a former Head of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Australia, has curated for major exhibitions and lectured widely on art and film. McDonald will be leading the World Art Tour Cutting Edge Contemporary to Germany in September 2027. Image: Art Basel Hong Kong 2025, photo: Spencer Chow Unsplash
